Spain marked their first home game since winning the World Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Croatia in the Nations League on Tuesday. Lamine Yamal was the star of the show, scoring two goals and setting up another as the hosts dominated the match at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The teenager opened the scoring within 75 seconds, his left-footed finish taking his tally of international goals to nine in 36 appearances.
The visitors equalized just before the half-hour mark through Dion Beljo's header, but Spain quickly regained the lead. Marc Pubill fired home a header from a pinpoint Lamine Yamal cross, restoring the hosts' advantage. The Croatian team struggled to contain Spain's attack, with Lamine Yamal again making an impact by beating Barcelona teammate and Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic at his near post to score his second goal.
Lamine Yamal's impressive performance strengthened his case for the Ballon d'Or, with voting having closed on Monday and the winner announced on October 26. The teenager's contribution was praised by his teammates, with Spain's captain, Rodri, showing off the World Cup trophy before kick-off. The trophy was handed to Rodri by Sevilla legend Jesús Navas, a winner with Spain in 2010.
Spain's victory was sealed with a fourth goal from Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, who notched up a crisp dribble and finish with fewer than two minutes to play. The win marked a successful start to Spain's campaign in Group A3, with their next match against Czechia on Saturday. Lamine Yamal expressed his delight at the win, saying the team was excited to bring the World Cup trophy home and were thrilled to win the game.
The match was played in front of a packed Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, with the home crowd celebrating Spain's World Cup victory. The team's performance was a testament to their strength and depth, with several players making significant contributions to the win. The victory was also a boost to Spain's morale, as they look to build on their World Cup success.
In other Nations League matches, Slovenia beat North Macedonia 2-0 with goals from Sandi Lovric and Aljosa Matko. Moldova were held to a 1-1 draw at home to the Faroe Islands, while Slovakia beat Kazakhstan 2-1. Iceland won 3-0 in Luxembourg, and Estonia drew 1-1 in Bulgaria. Finland and Belarus played to a scoreless draw in Helsinki.
The results marked a significant start to the Nations League campaign for several teams, with Spain and Slovenia getting off to winning starts. The competition is expected to be fierce, with several top teams vying for the top spot in their respective groups. The next round of matches will take place on Saturday, with Spain facing Czechia in a crucial Group A3 encounter.
Key points
- Lamine Yamal scored two goals and set up another in Spain's 4-1 win over Croatia.
- Spain marked their first home game since winning the World Cup with a convincing victory.
- The win marked a successful start to Spain's campaign in Group A3 of the Nations League.
